What to Know Before an At-Home Abortion

What to Know Before an At-Home Abortion

If you're considering an at-home abortion, you've probably already read how the abortion pill works.

But knowing how it works isn't the same as knowing what your experience may be like.

  • How far along you are

  • Your pregnancy

  • Your health

can all affect what you experience.

That's why the time before an abortion matters.

Ember Rising's free Pre-Abortion Pill Assessment gives you an ultrasound, time with a nurse, and practical resources to help you know more and prepare before beginning the process at home.

Prefer to text first? Talk with our nurses privately at (316) 536-7512.

 

How Do At-Home Abortions Work?

An at-home medication abortion commonly uses two medications to end a pregnancy.

Mifepristone blocks progesterone, a hormone needed for a pregnancy to continue.

Misoprostol then causes the uterus to contract and helps the body pass the pregnancy through cramping and bleeding.1,2

The FDA-approved mifepristone regimen is approved for ending an intrauterine pregnancy through 10 weeks gestation.2

An at-home abortion is still a medical process. Understanding your pregnancy beforehand can help you better prepare for what may apply to you.

 

What Does an At-Home Abortion Feel Like?

Cramping and bleeding are part of how the abortion pill works. Some women compare the cramping to a very heavy period, while others experience significantly more pain.

How long the process takes, how much you bleed, and what you experience can vary. How far along you are is one factor that can make a difference.

That's where knowing more about your pregnancy becomes valuable.

Ember Rising's free Pre-Abortion Pill Assessment includes an ultrasound and unrushed time with a nurse to help you:

  • Understand your pregnancy
  • Ask the questions you actually have
  • Better prepare for the process at home

 

Will I See the Fetus?

What you see can depend largely on how far along the pregnancy is.

Earlier in pregnancy, pregnancy tissue may be difficult to distinguish from blood and blood clots. As gestational age increases, what passes during an at-home abortion can look more like a fetus.

An ultrasound can help estimate gestational age and provide more accurate information about your pregnancy and what you can expect to see.

Pre-abortion care can help you know more about what to expect before you begin.

 

Should I Have an At-Home Abortion Alone?

Many women take the abortion pill at home, but it's worth thinking ahead about what you'll need and who will be available if you need help.

Consider having someone you trust nearby or available by phone and making a plan for where you would go if you needed medical attention.

You don't have to figure out your preparation from an internet checklist. During your Pre-Abortion Pill Assessment, you'll have private, unrushed time with a nurse to talk through your pregnancy, questions, and practical preparation before you begin.

 

 

How Do I Prepare for an At-Home Abortion?

Preparation isn't just knowing how to take the medication. It's knowing what to expect once you're home.

Ember Rising's free Abortion Pill C.A.R.E. Kit helps you prepare with:

  • Supplies to help monitor blood loss
  • Tools to identify passed tissue, if needed
  • Pads & protective underwear
  • Practical recovery items
  • Information about what to expect & when to seek care

Your C.A.R.E. Kit is provided free during your Pre-Abortion Pill Assessment.

 

What If the Abortion Pill Doesn't Work?

Medication abortion is highly effective, but it doesn't work in every case. Sometimes a pregnancy may continue or pregnancy tissue may remain in the uterus, requiring additional medical care.1

An ultrasound before taking the medication can also provide important information about the pregnancy you're starting with.

It can help estimate how far along you are and determine whether the pregnancy appears to be located inside the uterus. This matters because an ectopic pregnancy develops outside the uterus and cannot be treated with the abortion pill.

An ultrasound can't tell you exactly how your abortion will go. But it can give you more information before you begin.

Ember Rising provides pregnancy testing and ultrasounds at no cost as part of our Pre-Abortion Pill Assessment.

 

How Do I Know If Something Is Wrong?

Cramping, bleeding, and passing blood clots or tissue are expected during a medication abortion. However, certain symptoms can require medical attention.

Seek medical care for severe or concerning symptoms. The FDA advises contacting a healthcare professional for very heavy bleeding, persistent abdominal pain, feeling sick more than 24 hours after taking misoprostol, or a sustained fever.2

Preparation can help you know what to watch for. Ember Rising's free Abortion Pill C.A.R.E. Kit includes supplies to help track blood loss, practical recovery items, and information to help you prepare for the at-home experience.

 

 

Why Does Pre-Abortion Care Matter?

The internet can tell you what commonly happens. Pre-abortion care helps you understand what may apply to you.

Know how far along you are. Understand your pregnancy. Ask your questions. Get practical supplies. Prepare for what you may experience at home.

That's what Ember Rising's free Pre-Abortion Pill Assessment is designed to do.

We're community-funded, so there's no cost to you and no financial incentive tied to your pregnancy decision or procedure.

Schedule Your Free Pre-Abortion Pill Assessment

Prefer to text? Ask a nurse your pregnancy or abortion questions at (316) 536-7512. It's free and private.

 

 

References
  1. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Medication Abortion Up to 70 Days of Gestation.
  2. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Mifepristone Information.
  3. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Ultrasound Exams.